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Real Madrid are tracking Kante as they look to strengthen their midfield and have got the World Cup winning midfielder in their sights.

That would open the door for Chelsea to move for West Ham ’s England midfielder Rice as a direct replacement for Kante.

Big deals are going to be very difficult this summer and Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has already voiced doubt as to whether clubs will do major transfers in the current financial climate.

However, deals could happen if clubs sell and then use those funds for replacements while Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was also intending to spend this summer.

Rice is on Chelsea's radar should they lose Kante (Image: PA)

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard recently admitted how much his team have missed Kante during this season as the France international has suffered with a string of injuries.

Kante has been one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe for the past five years and has won the Premier League title with both Leicester and Chelsea.

He is also not pushing to leave but Real Madrid do have him on their hit list and he appears to have moved ahead of Manchester United’s Paul Pogba.

Any potential move will hinge on finances and, even though Real Madrid have strong pulling power, Spanish football has also been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis and they do not know how it will look when the transfer window reopens.

But Chelsea would view 21-year-old Rice as the perfect successor as he has emerged as an England regular and improved dramatically as a defensive midfielder.

Rice, who joined West Ham after being released by Chelsea when he was 14, has blossomed with the Hammers and had previously attracted interest from Manchester United.